Collapsible lug container feed construction



Feb. 16, 1954 NEAL 2,669,342

COLLAPSIBLE LUG CONTAINER FEED CONSTRUCTION Filed April 2, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l I F If I 91 ncludes a Patented Feb. 16, 1954 GOLL-APSIBLE LUG CONTAiNER' CON STRUGTION M rris P- N a Qui y,

1. ass gns: t A

P ckagin M chine zcolfll l flfifih; Quincx. I I-L acorporation ofillinois Application April 2, 1951, Seriai'Nq. 218 879 Cl i s- .Ihepresent invention greletes generally to feed c nstr ions, and mo parti ula y to l ieegl constnuctions ,;for moving cartons lend the like withoutdamageto cartons and Without:jam-

mi e er dama in th n t ct nthe e ent no el ees c n tru hp el o e sib s 11 s ass mb d l n chai an b a ed t is he on her in ac q ii I 1 I summ y,

w th a movableo th ehsin 9 (provide is pus in sur se t PROP-:91 ntainers and the l such 8- tl l'9 l' rious t s oI-p osss ihe'o he dlins ma h n s The s i shl spsihl wi h: respect to the 1m thu sl mihe' ineffl enhs hili :Q ma e tome c tai er wh n th ir lh y hositions th s 0 1- :a-ihe he insane u h ha hesi s f the con a n r a her thsnthe rear nd is cont d by he i us- In thenparfi u ar adaptati n illustm e hs s n heeha h h s huma a d hrr n emen s mend d fo e i i ma tics- -e lspsine he ue e -h s s und a sh o k 1s thescarrton neqeiy-ingend-of the ,feeel ,const 1'ucmom-which eliminates thepossibility of the engul-ars p os h I the we t a d the canton, t th like, cau in amage t re o- It is an ohj ect of n the present invention to proyide a novelsfeed constructionincluding a eol- ,lap bleilug assemble w th i k shinn whic is .biasedto anemia-1 srs i sl s t o i hi e dsl iwsy-d rpmemi a is-h a e is ada ted it en a the ea nd or s c rtoon o the like, fo prq ellinsl h m n t e di ection of movement of the chain.

. I isua othe bj t f th invent on t p o a novel collapsible feedflugior aSsemblywith a linxncnainiorthe like which is biasedinto a position'forpushing engagement with a, cartonfbnt h ch, u n nt c with th s de -pf w ch Wi lI'be depressed'or'folded to a position wherein e ti e "m ement be e h chain and t carton willnot cause damage to the'iatter;

It isanother object to provide a novel feed constructi'oninciuding a chainen'd a plurality of spaced propelling lugs connected thereto which are collapsible in a mannerto "permit the pushingo'fa-carton therepast in one direction but not in the'other.

TIt is=another objecttoprovide wnovelfeedconstructioncomprising "a sprocket assembly and spaced collapsible lugs connected to said chain in whichvsaid Jugs ware automatically depressed Awhilepassingaroundoneof the sprockets.

- -Qther obj cotsane to provide a feed :construc ti'on including a ocollapsible lug wc'onstruction which is :relativel-yinexpehsive to manufacture end to ssemb wi hs hk sham; w ic m he he sec ed st p z ermined o s i i hat of fi B J Whi9 li s m le a d shd h h ts epere io o ene ei es d o el ng srthh 101- the like.

T e eg in end ethe o j s a d --sd htases ar p s htn mm t e ef i w ne esw h ip hon sksn th csQm an me d wing in w ic V g is diagr mmsfi t p -p h e of h9 1? t n fl p seal m chin i W PQ Q'Q I S h ssl n tr tn by wh shs o s o he lik are p ephe ths sthr ush h qh ls n tm ste i e ssss se th t tssc in .of h p s n in- Wl tion; p

I Fig. 2 is 2, sideelevatlonal -view thereof;

Fig. 3. is an enlarged fre g-mentary t op plan view thezzeof showing additionel l details of twon spzzocket and chain assemblies forming a part of said novel iieeol construction and constructed in acco cdance with the tea chings of the present invention;

i l ssne t so t e cha n w th wh c i a em- F g- 7 i en vemsresd 'sfi fiifil hl ele ation tak n ss s ell h ns th line h Pie 3. sho hi t hi nh l s n whi h ssmh d is s ro ket me? be mounted en id er shah E i a ir e sh sr sh slzeed se ti st .0 taksheene sl alon th line Es-.8 1

Rig. showing details of the collapsible lug conll fi hn;

- F ig. '9 is anienlanged t agmentary sectional p an wi ss e -een s e one the e "o Fiss o ng add ional de ail of hscdlls s s s- 0 a bott m a view-o a en we sp o ket:

sh ne;

his membe hReienring :to the ",dnawiq gs more lpartieularly :by inference :numenels, 15 indicates 1.;generel1y; s,

'plate section 26 and the shape of the latterbeing best shown in Fig. 9,

*thelug-like portion 30.

'porate therein a link plate |2| (Fig. 12). 2| which is opposite tothe special link plate |2| "as best shown in Fig.

feed construction built in accordance with the teachings of the present invention and incorporated as part of a diagrammatically illustrated carton flap sealing machine I!) (Fig. 1). The feed construction |5 includes collapsible lugs 16 assembled with a link chain 11 for engagement with cartons I8 for propulsion through the machine l9. v

The link chain l1, with which a plurality of collapsible lugs 16 are assembled, is preferably of the roller type in which riveted link assemblies 28 are connected by pairs of shown in Fig. 6. This type of chain is well known, and the additionof the collapsible lug |6 of the present invention thereto requires the removal of certain parts, the reworking of others, and the addition of elements, as will appear.

Each collapsible lug l6 includes a lug member 25 which embraces a portion of the chain (Figs. 5, 6, 8, 9 and 14). This lug member 25 may be of any appropriate metal and may be cast, forged, or otherwise formed to the shape as shown in the several views of the drawing.

Thus, the lug member 25 is seen to comprise parallel upper and lower plate sections 26 and 21 connected by a yoke section 28. As best shown in Fig. 5, the upper plate section 26 differs from the lower plate section 21 in that it is extended to include a cam engaging portion 29 having a depending lug-like portion 38forming a perpendicular offset face 3|. Both the upper the lower plate section 21,

include straight forward edge portions 34 adapted to extend perpendicularly to the chain |1 when the collapsible lug I6 is in its normal biased position, as Will appear. It will also be observed from Fig. 5 that the forward edges 34 plan of the face 3| of Additionally, the upper and lower plate sections 26 and 21 each have an are perpendicular to the outwardly disposed edge portion 35 which is 'rearwardly inclined toward the chain l1 when a the lug H5 is in its normal biased position.

The yoke section 28 connecting the upper and 'lower plate sections 26 and 21 may be plate-like in form, and has a groove 36 formed in an inner face '31 intermediate the upper and lower sections 26 and 21 and parallel thereto (Figs. 9 and Coaxial bores 48 and 4| are formedin the upper and lower plate sections 26 and 21, re-

f spectively, and each receives a press-fitted bushing 42, as best shown in Fig. 8. Additionally,

the upperplate section 26 contains a hole or aperture 43 for a'purpose to be described.

In preparing the chain H to receive a lug l6, one ofthelink plates 2| is reworked to incorrelatively large aperture 45 and to form a special the link plate a relatively small aperture 46 Similarly,

is reworked to incorporate therein a threaded aperture 41 so as to form a special link plate 22|, 8. It will be observed that the threaded aperture 41 in the special link plate 22| is coaxial with the aperture 45 in the special tuted for the withdrawn pin. HIIt istobe. noted tion with an edge of the special link plate 'Fig. 4, the propelling position being determined by abutment of the face 3| of the lug-like por- 55 of the special link plate l2l and the collapsed position being determined by flush abutment of the inner surface 31 of the yoke section 28 with both an opposite edge 56 I21 and with an edge 51 of the special .link plate 22 A torsion spring 68, formed as clearly shown inF'igs. 11 and 13, is mounted on the pin 48 with a bent portion 6| inserted in the relatively small aperture 46 in the special link 'plate I2| and with a substantially straight portion 62 disposed in the groove 38 in the yoke section 28 of the lug member 25. A collar 63 secured-to the pin 48 by means of a setscrew 64 retains the spring 60 in appropriate position adjacent the special link plate I2 I. Thus mounted, the spring 68 is effective to bias the lug member 25 to its propelling position, as previously described. It

cent teeth of the sprocket 18,

'port- 8| mounts a spacer will be observed that the access hole 43 in the upper plate section 26 of the lug member 25 facilitates the insertion of the pin 48 after the lug member 25 is itself assembled with the chain I6.

To accommodate the pin 48, the spring 60 and the collar 63 of the collapsible lugs l6, two sprockets 10, having a tooth pattern, as clearly depicted in Fig. 10, are provided for each chain l1, and the several collapsible lugs 16 associated with each chain l1 are spaced a predetermined number of linksapart so as to cause these said parts disposed between the plates HI and MI to be disposed in one of the several wide spaces 1| as each lug l6 moves around a sprocket 18. In the depicted embodiment, each sprocket 16 has a tooth pattern based upon a total of 24 teeth, with each fourth tooth being removed down to the root circle, and the collapsible lugs ls'are spaced fourteen links apart in the chain l1. With the chain pitch such as to span two adjathe spaces 1| are in position to accommodate the aforementioned parts of the lugs l6 as the latter passes around the sprocket.

Of the two sprockets 10 employed for each chain l1 used in the machine 18, one drives the chain l1 and the other acts as an idler. Thus, each sprocket 10 may have av relatively large bore 15 and an adjacent bolt face 16, the latter being adapted to receive an adapter (not shown) for connection with a rotatable shaft where the sprocket 1!! acts in a driving capacity.

When the sprocket 18 is used as anidler, it may be mounted as clearly shown in Fig. '7 wherein a stationary shaft 88 is mounted in a shaft support 8| and rigidly secured therein by means of setscrews 82. As is clear from Fig. '1, a bearing plate 83 resting on an upperface of the sup- 84, of brass or the like, which, in turn, supports a retainer 85 secured by bolts to the bolt face 16 of the; sprocket 18. A retaining collar 85 is disposed within the bore 15 of the sprocket 18 and is secured to theshaft 88 by setscrews. The retainer 85' is-rotata'ble between the spacer .84. and ,collar. 86,,thus proYidscribed. Clearly,

ing for free rotation "of :the'sprocket "It about the shaft 8B.

in is desirable "thatthe collapsible lugs rs be in collapsed positions as they approach and move intothe Tpath of travel of the containers |-8 to avoid possible puncture "of out of positionc'ar- "tons through a normal angular approach. This is achieved as is best shown in Figs. and ""7. n

cam member so of phenolite or the like is secured to a cam'hub *91 appropriatelysecured to theshaft 88.

v is cieartrom Fig 4, the cam contacting "portion '29 "of the lug members =25 will engage an arcu'a-te edge =92 ot the cam SO during the travel or the lug member 25 around the sprocket it. as each lug It, however, arrives position properly "to engage a container l8, the cam "contactingmortion 2-9 "reaches "a "substantially flat edge portion '93 of the cam 90., thereby permitting the spring 60 to bias thelug mem ber 25 to its propelling position.

Operation is evident from the foregoing description, the collapsible lug t8 is automatic in its operation in that it is continuouslybiased towards its propolling: position. (During predeterminedportions of its path of travel, however, as for example, in its passage around the sprocket in in approaching the path or travel of .the containers l8, it may be caused to assume a depressed or :nonpropelling position :by 'the cam action above ideadditional cams sof appropriate shape maybe providedat other points along thepath of theilugs liii'ldesired.

When :a plurality of collapsible lugs 16 are as- .sembled with chains :illgas' shownxiin Figs. 1 and '2, .lfor the purpose :or propelling containers it through a carton sealer machine 19,, it is apparent that the collapsible lugs it will engage the rear ends of the" containers 1.8 only when the containers I18 have advanced .far enough along ;'a conveyor :35 or the tlikefo'r the lug members 25 .130 reassume their propelling rpositions :after passing :around the idler sprocket :"lil. If, for :exampin, a container 13 has :advanced :only to :a posiiti'on wherein an approaching ing to :engages the .side f .thesconta'mer lap-the lug .irnember 2 5 will remain in ;a depressed, position :and will slide :along thefside i of theccontainer Ill without damage thereto. If, for :any reason, it be desired manually :to advance a container l8 through the machine is at a speed greater than that of the chains"! 1., #or while:the;feed construction. I5 is at rest, the collapsible construction ofthe lugs I6 permits this to be done without damage to the container l8.

--Clearly, there has been provided a 'f'eed construction -'wh-ieh fulfills the objects and advantages sought therefor.

It to "be understood that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings have "been given only by way of illustration :andexampl'e. It is also to be understood that changes in form of the elements, rearrangement of parts, and substitution of equivalent elements, which will be obvious to those skilled in the art, are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. A collapsible lug container feed construction comprising, in combination, a pair of movable chains disposed in spaced relation and having adjacent runs in parallel, a plurality of lug members mounted on each chain so as to be op- 'positely paired with their respective counterparts on the other chain, said lug membersbeing individually pivotable between a propelling positi-on and a collapsed position, a face portionon each lug member, said face portions heingin per pendicular extension from their respective chain's when-"said lug members are in propelling position, individual yieldable means engaging each lug member respectively for biasing :the same-to.-

ward its propelling position, rotatable sprocket means for each chain, supporting means for :the sprocket means, and means mounted on said sup;- porting means for engagement with said lug members for moving the same relative .to the chains against the action of said biasing means.

A collapsible lug container feed construction comprising, in combination, .a pair oi movable chains disposed in spaced relation and having adjacent runs in parallel, a plurality iof lug members mounted on each chain so as to .becppositely paired with their respective counter.- parts on the other chain, .said .lug membersbeing individually pivotable between a propelling position and a collapsed position, a face portion on eachlug member, said face portions being in perpendicular extension from their respective able chains (disposed in .spacedrelation and having adjacent runs in parallel, a pluralityof lug members mounted on each chain so as to ,belop- 'positely'paired with their respectivecounterparts on the other chain, said lug members being individua'lly .pivotable between a propelling position "and a collapsed position, a face portion on each lug :member, said face ortions being in perpendicular outward extension from their respectivercha'ins when said lug members are in prospelling position, acam contacting "portion. on each lug member, said cam contacting portions having a 'maximum inward extension :from their respective chains when said lugs are in propelling position, resilient means biasing each lug member toward its propelling position, rotatable sprocket means for each chain, said sprocket means including a toothed sprocket for each chain, said toothed sprockets having non-uniformly spaced teeth providing-a pluralityo'f wide spaces :at the root circle thereof for receiving portions of said biasing means, and cam means 'engageable with each of said lug members for moving the same to its collapsed position.

4. A collapsible lug container feed construction comprising, in combination, a pair of movable chains disposed in spaced relation and having adjacent runs in parallel, a plurality of lug members mounted on each chain so as to be oppositely paired with their respective counterparts on the other chain, said lug members being individually pivotable between a propelling position and a collapsed position, a face portion on each lug member, said face portions being in perpendicular extension from their respective chains when said lug members are in propelling position, an edge portion on each lug member inclined rearwardly from the outer end of the face portion to the respective chains when said lug members are in propelling position, resilient means biasing each lug member toward its pro pelling position, rotatable sprocket means for each chain, said sprocket means including a toothed sprocket for each chain, said toothed sprockets having non-uniformly spaced teeth providing a plurality of wide spaces at the root circle thereof for receiving portions of said biasing means, and cam means engageable with each of said lug members for moving the same to its collapsed position.

5. In a collapsible lug container feed construction, in combination, a link pivotally connected to the chain, a face portion on the lug member for propelling engagement 0 with a carton or the like, an inclined edge portion on the lug member for non-propelling engagement with a carton or the like, spring means for disposing said face portion in a propelling position only in the absence of said non-propelling engagement, and cam lug member for disposing said face non-propelling position.

6. In a collapsible lug container feed construction, in combination, a link chain, a lug member comprising a pair of parallel plate sections connected by a yoke section, means pivotally connecting each of said plate sections to the chain, an offset face on one of the plate sections engageportion in a able with the chain for defining a propelling position of the lug member and for maintaining the lug member against pivotal movement due to a propelling load reaction, means biasing the lug member toward said propelling position, and cam engageable means on one of the plate sections for moving the lug member against the action of said biasing means to a non-propelling position.

7. In a collapsible lug container feed construction, in combination, a link chain, a lug member comprising a pair of parallel plate sections connected by a yoke section, means pivotally connecting each of said plate sections to the chain, an offset face on one of the plate sections engageable with the chain for defining a propelling position of the lug member and for maintaining the lug member against pivotal movement due to a propelling load reaction, means biasing the lug member toward said propelling position, a face portion on the lug member, an edge portion on the lug member, said face and edge portions respectively defining planes normal to and inclined to the chain when the lug member is in propelling position, and cam engageable means on one of the plate sections for moving the lug member against the action of said biasing means to a non-propelling position in which the plane defined by said edge portion is parallel to the chain.

8. In a collapsible lug container feed construcchain, a lug member engageable means on the e tion, in combination, a movable link chain having a pair of special link plates disposed in parallel and a special pin replacing a standard chain pin, a lug member embracing the special link plates and pivotally connected to the special pin, spring means disposed between the link plates and connected to at least one of the same, said spring means being also in engagement with the lug member for biasing the latter toward a predetermined propelling position, fixed stop means on the lug member for limiting the biased pivotal movement of the same, said stop means being adapted to absorb a propelling loa-d reaction, and cam means on the lug member for moving the latter from said propelling position.

9. In a collapsible lug container feed construction, in combination, a movable link chain, a rotatable sprocket for the chain, stationary means for supporting the sprocket, a stationary cam mounted on the supporting means, a lug member pivotally connected to the chain, means on the lug member engageable with the chain for defining a propelling position and an alternate nonpropelling position of the lug member, means acting between the chain and the lug member for biasing the latter toward said propelling position, and a cam engaging portion on the lug member for engaging said stationary cam for movement of the lug member toward said nonpropelling position.

10. In a collapsible lug container feed construction, in combination, a movable link chain having a pair of special link plates disposed in parallel and a special pin replacing a standard chain pin, a lug member embracing the special link plates and pivotally connected to the special pin, spring means disposed between the link plates and connected to at least one of the same,

2 said spring means being also in engagement with the lug member for biasing the latter toward a predetermined propelling position, a rotatable sprocket for the chain having non-uniformly spaced teeth providing a wide space for receiving said spring means during movement of the lug member therearound, stationary means for supporting the sprocket, a stationary cam mounted on the supporting means, and a cam engaging portion on the lug member for engaging said stationary cam for movement of the lug member from said propelling position.

MORRIS P. NEAL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,951,400 Dvorak, Mar. 20 1934 

